About Us

We are British Columbia’s health research agency. We are working towards a future where BC is recognized worldwide for its vibrant, coherent, inclusive and globally competitive health research system, which improves the health of British Columbians, the health system and the economy. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and Indigenous reconciliation and self-determination continues to guide us.

As a provincial organization, our work extends across many Indigenous lands and territories throughout BC. We acknowledge with respect and humility that our Vancouver office is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Current Funding Opportunities

Research Trainee Program

Supports the best and brightest health researchers in training to enable career development and support world-class health research in BC.

Research on Research Joint Initiative

We are partnering with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research on a joint funding opportunity for research on research – the application of rigorous methods and analysis to the practice of research itself – its methods, standards, and evaluation. The funding opportunity welcomes applications related to research-on-research (meta-research) in any disciplinary context. Application deadline: February 20, 2025

Scholar Program

Letter of intent deadline has passed. Supports early career health researchers, helping them form their own research teams, train the next generation of scientists and develop world-leading research programs.

Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) Program

Letter of intent deadline has passed. Supports health professionals who are actively involved in patient care to build their health research programs, train the next generation of scientists, and make significant contributions to their field.

CANTRAIN Clinical Research Internships

Michael Smith Health Research BC partners with Canadian Consortium of Clinical Trial Training (CANTRAIN), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to help increase clinical trials training, expertise and capacity in BC and across Canada.

Health Research BC-Mitacs Health System Focused Opportunity

Through a partnership with Mitacs, this opportunity provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with placements at health organizations or municipalities focused on improving health to gain experience working with BC’s health system and apply their research skills to address pressing health and health system focused challenges.

Applications are now open for:

Latest News

News

CIHR avian flu research grant recipients Drs. Agatha Jassem and Horacio Bach.

BC researchers funded to respond to bird flu outbreaks

5 December 2024

Michael Smith Health Research BC is partnering with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to support BC-based researchers to find ways to prevent, prepare for and respond to outbreaks of avian influenza. 

News

2024 CTTP awardees, from top left to right: Una Spasovski, Michael Diaz Stewart, Mahtab Matin, Kyle Missen, Marie Pier St. Laurent, Kaela Cranston, Amir Rad, Dana Lao, Amanda Willms, Olivia Ferguson

Partnership enhances clinical research expertise

3 December 2024

Michael Smith Health Research BC is co-funding 23 BC-based graduate and postdoctoral trainees through the 2024 clinical trials training awards.

News

Collage of the 2024 C2 & Reach awardees, including: Wendy Norman (UBC), Paweena Sukhawathanakul (UVic), Adeleke Fowokan (Fraser Health), Lisa Borque Bearskin (UVic), Jonathan Little (UBC), Christine Ou (UVic), Wendy Hulko (Thompson Rivers University), Fidel Vila-Rodriguez (UBC).

Turning health research into action and impact

27 November 2024

Michael Smith Health Research BC is funding 91 diverse teams across British Columbia to bridge the gap between evidence and impact.

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